Paris' Louvre Museum reopens after pickpocket protest

Apr. 11, 2013
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Paris' famed Louvre museum has been closed after workers walked off the job to protest what they say is the increasing problem of pickpockets at work in the museum's vast galleries. Louvre spokeswoman Sophie Grange said the museum, which normally attracts up to 30,000 visitors a day at this time of year, did not open Wednesday. / Jacques Brinon AP

by Laura Bly, USA TODAY

by Laura Bly, USA TODAY

UPDATE, April 11: Uniformed police patrolled Paris's Louvre museum as it reopened Thursday after a one-day staff walkout. According to AFP, about 20 officers were staffed at the museum in response to staff concerns.

The world's most popular museum shut its doors Wednesday, after more than 100 workers walked off the job to protest what they say is a scourge of aggressive pickpockets.

A statement from the Louvre said pickpocketing was a growing problem, despite tighter co-operation with Paris police and temporary bans on identified perpetrators. Late last year, says London's Guardian, the Louvre filed an official complaint to the state prosecutor over visitors falling victim to the thieves.

A union official said staffers told of being "spat at, insulted, threatened or kicked," the Guardian said.

The Louvre had about 10 million visitors last year, and would normally draw 30,000 a day this time of year. A union spokesman said the museum planned to reopen Thursday.

Among Wednesday's turned-away tourists was Mariam Kamel, 16, a student from the International School in Bellevue, Washington, who had planned to see the museum on a school trip.

"We've been cheated," Kamel told the Associated Press. Her teacher, Rhonda Eastman, said she had given specific instructions to her students to avoid being pickpocketed while in Paris.